Equestrian Blog - NewsNews and thoughts from around the equestrian communityhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/
http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specificationBlogEngine.NET 3.4.0.0en-UShttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/opml.axdhttp://www.dotnetblogengine.net/syndication.axdMy nameEquestrian Blog0.0000000.000000FAQs on riding hats after 1384 withdrawal <p><strong>1.&nbsp;Why has the 1384 standard been withdrawn?</strong> Safety standards, including 1384, are typically revised every 5 years, but not every revision results in significant changes. The review process for 1384 was underway for some years, but a deemed lack of progress towards consensus on whether the standard should be changed has led to the unfortunate situation where the standard has instead been withdrawn, completely.<br /><br /><strong>2.&nbsp;Is my 1384 standard hat still safe?</strong> Absolutely, assuming it is fitted correctly and has not suffered any impact or other damage, just as would be the case with any other hat conforming to another standard. Hats certified to 1384 have lessened injuries and saved countless lives over many years. The protection offered by 1384 has not changed. When used and fitted correctly, (BS) EN1384 hats will continue to be as protective as they have been for the best part of 20 years, since the standard first appeared.<br /><br /><strong>3.&nbsp;Why are Robinsons still selling 1384 hats if the standard has been withdrawn?</strong> 1384 hats can still be sold, purchased and worn because, at the time they were made, they met a perfectly good, certified standard. The only change is that manufacturers will need to use a new standard to test their current 1384 models against when producing new batches of the same hats in the future.&nbsp; Many have moved to the VG1, which is a specification to bridge the gap between the old and new European standards.&nbsp; Some hats will look very similar whilst&nbsp; others will need to be changed more substantially in order to meet the newer, revised specification. Leisure riders can continue to wear and enjoy the protection offered by 1384 hats for many years to come, however if riding at a centre, yard or in competition that may have their own requirements for hat standards, then you will need to check that your 1384 hat is still acceptable.<br /><br /><strong>4.&nbsp;I compete in competitions and my hat is the 1384 standard. Will I need to get a new hat?</strong> This depends upon your particular club or discipline.&nbsp; If you are riding at a BHS approved centre or British Riding Club event then you will not be allowed to wear your 1384 hat after 1 January 2016.&nbsp;&nbsp; Most disciplines have now published their rules for 2016 so the best thing to do is contact the discipline or organisation within which you compete to determine whether the 1384 standard is permitted under their rules beyond 2015. British Dressage, RDA and most of the showing bodies have given the EN1384 another year, allowing use until the end of 2016. If 1384 is not allowed for competitions, you will need to purchase a new hat to meet the rules of competition but you can of course still wear your 1384 hat for hacking, hunting or in any of the activities where it is allowed.<br /><br /><strong>5.&nbsp;Does this change mean I will have to buy a new hat even if I don&rsquo;t compete?</strong> If you do not compete in any competitions then if your hat meets the 1384 standard&nbsp; you do not need to purchase a new hat unless you ride at a BHS approved centre, riding school or&nbsp; have sustained an impact on it when riding or if it doesn&rsquo;t fit you anymore. You can still continue to wear your 1384 hat and even purchase a new replacement 1384, should you need to, while they remain available through retailers. The British Equestrian Trade Association estimates that there are approximately 1.6 million regular riders who do not have to comply with competition rules so will not be affected by any changes by riding organisations. 1384 hats tend to be slimmer in profile, more lightweight and often more ventilated than other hats, so you can continue to enjoy the protection and comfort they offer.<br /><br /><strong>6.&nbsp;My hat has two standards on the label, one of which is 1384. Is this ok to use for competitions?</strong> Yes, provided that the other standard is approved by your riding organisation. If the hat has1384 plus PAS015 then it will not be affected by this change.&nbsp; If it has any of the other existing standards such as Snell or ASTM F1163 then this is fine for the moment but since the CE mark may be based on the EN1384 standard these too in time may be affected by rule changes if you replace this hat with the same in the future. &nbsp;</p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/faqs-on-riding-hats-after-1384-withdrawal
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/faqs-on-riding-hats-after-1384-withdrawal#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=c5f3a325-048c-4bd4-927b-c8b116e96e60Thu, 21 Apr 2016 10:17:00 +0000Help & AdviceNewsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=c5f3a325-048c-4bd4-927b-c8b116e96e600http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=c5f3a325-048c-4bd4-927b-c8b116e96e60http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/faqs-on-riding-hats-after-1384-withdrawal#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=c5f3a325-048c-4bd4-927b-c8b116e96e60Free Delivery - Limited Time Only!<p>Yippee! From Monday 9th November our standard UK mainland delivery service &ndash; up to &pound;5.99 &ndash; will be FREE for <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/">online orders</a> and there's no minimum spend required! As an added bonus, we&rsquo;ll even deduct &pound;5.99 from the delivery charge should your order require our Express, Export, Offshore or Heavy Duty service. Which means you&rsquo;ll be saving whatever delivery service you use! In all cases the delivery charge will be automatically deducted from the order total at the bottom of your shopping trolley, once you have selected the delivery method you require and have clicked 'Update Total'. Remember, our FREE delivery offer is available exclusively online and is for a limited time only.</p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/free-delivery-limited-time-only
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/free-delivery-limited-time-only#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=66ee80de-1d87-42c2-a178-0b550385d8c1Fri, 6 Nov 2015 10:09:00 +0000Help & AdviceNewsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=66ee80de-1d87-42c2-a178-0b550385d8c10http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=66ee80de-1d87-42c2-a178-0b550385d8c1http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/free-delivery-limited-time-only#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=66ee80de-1d87-42c2-a178-0b550385d8c1Delivery's On Us - Limited Time Only!<p>Until 8.30am, Thursday 24th September only our standard UK mainland delivery service &ndash; up to &pound;5.99 &ndash; is FREE for <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/">online orders</a> when you spend &pound;10 or more! As an added bonus, we&rsquo;ll even deduct &pound;5.99 from the delivery charge should your order require our Express, Export, Offshore or Heavy Duty service. Which means you&rsquo;ll be saving whatever delivery service you use! In all cases the delivery charge will be automatically deducted from the order total at the bottom of your shopping trolley: <strong>Steps to claim your FREE delivery:</strong> 1. At the bottom of your basket click &lsquo;calculate your shipping&rsquo; 2. Insert the delivery address postcode &amp; click &lsquo;Get a quote&rsquo; 3. Select your delivery method &amp; click &lsquo;Update total&rsquo; 4. Insert promo code <strong>FRSR15</strong> into the &lsquo;promo codes&rsquo; box &amp; click apply Hurry&hellip;this promotion ends at 8.30am, Thursday 24th September 2015! Remember, our FREE delivery offer is available exclusively online.</p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/deliverys-on-us-today-only
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/deliverys-on-us-today-only#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=7a7b1452-b31d-4015-b3b5-218f75655c9aMon, 21 Sep 2015 02:00:00 +0000MiscellaneousNewsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=7a7b1452-b31d-4015-b3b5-218f75655c9a0http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=7a7b1452-b31d-4015-b3b5-218f75655c9ahttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/deliverys-on-us-today-only#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=7a7b1452-b31d-4015-b3b5-218f75655c9aLet the bargain hunting begin - Thursday 20th August!<p><strong>Our Online and Instore End of Season Sale starts at 9am, Thursday 20th August. </strong> We&rsquo;ve not been shy with our mark downs, so there&rsquo;s bound to be something in the sale section that you&rsquo;ve had your eye on for a while, or something that&rsquo;s simply too good a bargain to turn down. As usual in a sale, stock on some of the items is limited so be quick, as these bargains are going to sell out fast! There are discounts across all categories and I've managed to have a sneak peak at the price reductions and can see that selected products have had their prices slashed by up to 70%! For those of you who prefer to handle your bargains before you buy them, our Instore Sale is for you. At Ashton, Basingstoke, Cannock and our new Leeds Megastore, you&rsquo;ll be able to grab a bargain from 9am until 8pm on Thurs 20th August. Our Cardiff store will be open at 9am but will close a little earlier, at 5.30pm. If you are planning a visit to any of our stores during the Sale, here&rsquo;s a quick guide to each store, their contact details and their opening hours.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/ashton">Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/cannock">Cannock, Staffordshire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/basingstoke">Basingstoke, Hampshire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/cardiff">Radyr nr Cardiff, Glamorgan</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/leeds-megastore/">Leeds</a></li>
</ul>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/let-the-bargain-hunting-begin-thursday-20th-august
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/let-the-bargain-hunting-begin-thursday-20th-august#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=428bea8d-a1d9-4ae7-ab78-0c11262d4b12Thu, 13 Aug 2015 09:27:00 +0000Behind the ScenesNewsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=428bea8d-a1d9-4ae7-ab78-0c11262d4b120http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=428bea8d-a1d9-4ae7-ab78-0c11262d4b12http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/let-the-bargain-hunting-begin-thursday-20th-august#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=428bea8d-a1d9-4ae7-ab78-0c11262d4b12Look out for Your Golden Ticket – It may win you £2,000 of Equestrian Goodies!<p style="text-align: justify;"><img class="alignright" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=071715_1511_LookoutforY1.jpg" alt="" width="192" height="103" align="left" /><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Robinsons are pleased to announce yet another 'Summer Special' promotion with our new 'Golden Ticket' competition, designed especially for customers of our five stores.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>How it works </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Over the next few weeks, we'll be sending out a number of Golden Tickets to thousands of customers, in a number of different ways. If you receive a ticket (or a link to download one), all you have to do is fill in the details and drop it off, in person, at any of the five Robinsons stores around the country, in one of the entry boxes in each store.</p>
<p><img class="alignright" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=071715_1511_LookoutforY2.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="346" align="left" /><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>How the winner is decided </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The golden tickets will be transported back to Robinsons HQ in November and the winning ticket will be drawn at random and the winner notified. The lucky winner will win the amazing prize on offer of &pound;2,000 of various equestrian items, in sizes of your choice where available, including a full &pound;500 of Robinsons gift vouchers. Terms and conditions are listed below.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>The prize list </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Check out the amazing list of prizes on offer:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">&pound;500 of <strong>Robinsons</strong> <strong>gift vouchers</strong></div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Dublin</strong> <strong>Elevation Jodhpur Boots</strong> (RRP: &pound;44.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Ariat</strong> <strong>Grasmere Boots</strong> (&pound;249.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Hac Tac</strong> <strong>Damask Seat Breeches</strong> (&pound;99.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Hac Tac</strong> <strong>Softshell Jacket</strong> (&pound;79.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">an <strong>Amigo</strong> <strong>Bravo 12 Wug</strong> (&pound;129.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Caldene</strong> <strong>Westfield Wellingtons</strong> (&pound;69.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Harry Hall</strong> <strong>Legend Crystal Plus Riding Hat</strong> (&pound;89.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">an <strong>Amigo</strong> <strong>Headcollar &amp; Leadrope Set</strong> (&pound;19.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Brogini</strong> <strong>Modena Long Riding Boots</strong> (&pound;59.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Caldene</strong> <strong>Sheepskin Rolled GP Numnah</strong> (&pound;149.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Slip-Not</strong> <strong>Deluxe Grooming Bag</strong> (&pound;27.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Mountain Horse</strong> <strong>Crew Jacket II</strong> (&pound;89.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a set of <strong>Shires</strong> <strong>Travelmates Travel Boots</strong> (&pound;39.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Weatherbeeta</strong> <strong>Polar Fleece Cooler</strong> [Standard Neck] - Crimson/Grey (&pound;34.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a set of <strong>Shires</strong> <strong>Deluxe Polo Bandages</strong> (&pound;14.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>MacWet</strong> <strong>Long Mesh Sports Gloves</strong> (&pound;27.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Horseware</strong> <strong>Flamboro Polo Shirt</strong> (&pound;26.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Korsteel</strong> <strong>Stirrup Irons</strong> (&pound;27.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Caldene</strong> <strong>Wide Plain Snaffle Bridle</strong> (&pound;104.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Likit</strong> <strong>Tongue Twister</strong> (&pound;26.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Requisite</strong> <strong>Haylage Net</strong> (&pound;5.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Rambo</strong> <strong>Newmarket Lead Rope</strong> (&pound;6.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a pair of <strong>Shires</strong> <strong>Fleece Trimmed Over Reach Boots</strong> (&pound;17.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Shires</strong> <strong>Fleece Lined Girth</strong> (&pound;29.99)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">a <strong>Hac Tac</strong> <strong>Short Sleeve Polo Shirt</strong> (&pound;39.99)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We've never given away a prize as big as this before! It's a list of items that any equestrian would surely love to own - and one lucky winner will be able to take them all home! Simply look out for our Golden Tickets throughout the summer, use yours to enter and you could win this stunning prize! The five stores accepting entries are:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Robinsons Megastore, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire WN4 9PJ</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Robinsons Megastore, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG23 8BB</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Robinsons Megastore, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS10 2BB</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Robinsons Superstore, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0XF</div>
</li>
<li>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Robinsons Store, Pugh's Garden Village, Radyr, Cardiff CF15 8LB</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><strong>The fine details </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Anyone with a Golden Ticket can enter once &ndash; and there's no cost of entry although entries must be made in person in one of our five stores. The details we require to have been added are just that &ndash; there are no questions to get right or annoying tie-breakers. The draw will be made completely at random and will be videoed and uploaded onto social media to ensure fairness. Golden Tickets may not be entered into the competition via post or at any of the Robinsons in-store sections featured in a Sports Direct stores. Robinsons employees may not enter the competition. </span></p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/golden-ticket-2000-of-equestrian-goodies
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/golden-ticket-2000-of-equestrian-goodies#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=9cfa552e-d531-4493-82f1-f6dfb4ef3a55Fri, 17 Jul 2015 16:11:00 +0000Newsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=9cfa552e-d531-4493-82f1-f6dfb4ef3a550http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=9cfa552e-d531-4493-82f1-f6dfb4ef3a55http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/golden-ticket-2000-of-equestrian-goodies#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=9cfa552e-d531-4493-82f1-f6dfb4ef3a55Robinsons Becomes a ‘High Street’ Retailer<p><a href="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=IMG_1828.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3983" title="IMG_1828" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=IMG_1828-300x276.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="248" /></a>We&rsquo;re pleased to announce that <a title="Robinsons: Homepage" href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com">Robinsons</a>, the UK&rsquo;s number one equestrian retailer, has joined forces with the Sports Direct, the UK&rsquo;s number one sports retailer to offer high street shoppers an enticing range of equestrian products. This ground-breaking agreement means that equestrian consumers around the country will be greeted with a familiar name from the sport as they do their &lsquo;regular&rsquo; shopping, from April. A specially-chosen selection of Robinsons products will be featured in a &lsquo;lifestyle&rsquo; section within a number of Sports Direct&rsquo;s most prestigious stores around the country, in a move which will seek to bolster the retail giant&rsquo;s equestrian credentials. <a href="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=IMG_1829.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3985" title="IMG_1829" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=IMG_1829-295x300.jpg" alt="" width="266" height="270" /></a>We may have become the UK&rsquo;s most widely-known equestrian retailer for the last 25 years, but it&rsquo;s also important for us to maintain our reach towards those who are new to horses and riding - and where better to find those shoppers than on the High Street? We also feel that this helps us to stand apart from our competitors as an equestrian name with real credibility to the wider public.&nbsp; There is no bigger name in the sports retailing than Sports Direct and our association with their brand and its huge coverage acts as a real endorsement of the Robinsons brand.&nbsp; We&rsquo;re confident that, with so many shoppers becoming introduced to &ndash; or re-acquainted with &ndash; Robinsons this way, we will then be able to develop our relationship with them further. <a href="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=IMG_1830.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3990" title="IMG_1830" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=IMG_1830-241x300.jpg" alt="" width="241" height="300" /></a>With the extra reach this deal gives us to put our name and our products before the wider public, hopefully, we can even do our bit to encourage a new group of people, <a title="Robinsons: Search Results for 'Kids'" href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=desc&amp;limit=96&amp;order=relevance&amp;q=kids">young</a> and old, to take up riding and horses for the first time - who knows, maybe even an <a title="Robinsons: 'Carl &amp; Charlotte: Dressage Superstars' DVD" href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/equestrian-vision-carl-charlotte-dressage-superstars-dvd.html">Olympic champion</a> of the future? The &lsquo;store-in-store&rsquo; concept has been trialled in recent weeks at Sports Direct&rsquo;s 80,000 sq ft store at Shirebrook, Derbyshire.&nbsp; More recently, the concept has been added to the following Sports Direct Megastores, with more to be added in future:</p>
<ul>
<li>Aintree, Liverpool</li>
<li>Oxford Street, London</li>
<li>Lillywhite&rsquo;s, London</li>
<li>Argyle Street, Glasgow</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;<br /><br /><em>Please note: As the selection of products will be sold through Sports Direct&rsquo;s own systems, these &lsquo;lifestyle&rsquo; stores will not stock a full range of equestrian goods and will be unable to handle returns of regular Robinsons purchases. &nbsp;Equally, items purchased via Sports Direct may not be returned into a Robinsons store.</em><br /><br />&nbsp;</p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/robinsons-becomes-a-high-street-retailer
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/robinsons-becomes-a-high-street-retailer#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=6bc8e210-57bb-4816-a587-4e53c3291ac3Fri, 10 Apr 2015 12:35:00 +0000Newsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=6bc8e210-57bb-4816-a587-4e53c3291ac30http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=6bc8e210-57bb-4816-a587-4e53c3291ac3http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/robinsons-becomes-a-high-street-retailer#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=6bc8e210-57bb-4816-a587-4e53c3291ac3Hac Tac: The Return of the ‘Original Alternative’!<p><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/funnel-neck-sweat.html"><img class="size-medium wp-image-3948 " title="HAC TAC Sweater Navy" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=HAC-TAC-Sweater-Navy-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> If you&rsquo;ve been around horses long enough to know what a jute rug is, or if you can remember the days when the Horse of the Year Show was on BBC1, you&rsquo;ll probably remember the Hac Tac brand of rider clothing.&nbsp; Now, it&rsquo;s back &ndash; and we&rsquo;re thrilled to be able to say that it&rsquo;ll soon be appearing in our <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/new/spring-summer.html">Spring 2015 collection</a>! If you&rsquo;re too young to remember any of the above (lucky you!), here&rsquo;s a little bit of riding fashion history&hellip; Launched in the 1980s, Hac Tac helped shape many of the changes to equestrian fashion that are evident today.&nbsp; It was the brand that pioneered the <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?brand%5B0%5D=Ariat&amp;brand%5B1%5D=Just+Togs&amp;brand%5B3%5D=Harry+Hall&amp;q=denim">denim jodhpur</a> and, in doing so, it proved something that had long been ignored: that those of us who ride horses are &lsquo;normal people&rsquo; too &ndash; just as fashion conscious and motivated by trends as everyone else! This seems rather difficult to believe from a 21<sup>st</sup>-century standpoint but it really wasn&rsquo;t always the case that there was even such a thing as &lsquo;equestrian fashion&rsquo;.&nbsp; The two words didn&rsquo;t seem to be able to exist together &ndash; in fact, for many years, they pretty much cancelled each other out. <a href="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=International_Velvet_Tatum_ONeal_1978-500x3591.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3952" title="International_Velvet_Tatum_ONeal_1978-500x359" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=International_Velvet_Tatum_ONeal_1978-500x3591.jpg" alt="" width="267" height="322" /></a> A love of horses and riding has always been a deeply immersive lifestyle choice, rather than a mere hobby.&nbsp; For almost all of that time, if you decided that that was the life for you, you effectively consigned yourself to wearing the same narrow wardrobe of stone or beige jods, brown or black boots and dark green or navy blue quilted jackets &ndash; or tweeds.&nbsp; The lack of any other real choice from equestrian clothing suppliers made it little short of a uniform, something you couldn&rsquo;t fail to notice at any showground on a Sunday morning. Things had already begun to change in other parts of the Sunday morning showgrounds of days gone by.&nbsp; In the 1970s, the development of synthetic materials had led to the radical concept of the nylon <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/horse-clothing/horsewear/headcollars.html">headcollar</a>.&nbsp; To a riding public that was used to having either leather versions (more expensive and therefore likely to be replaced less often) or rope halters (remember those!), the idea of a cheaper, brightly-coloured nylon headcollar, which could match your <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/saddles-tack/saddlery/saddlepads-numnahs.html">numnah</a>, your <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/horse-clothing/horsewear/lead-ropes.html">lead rope</a>, even your horsebox, was a little short of a revelation for younger riders.&nbsp; Add to that the idea that it was so much cheaper than leather that it didn&rsquo;t have to last a lifetime before you&rsquo;d decide to replace it with, perhaps, another colour, and you have the perfect conditions for fashions to flourish. Ironically, the arrival of &lsquo;fashion&rsquo; in human clothing continued to lag behind these equine innovations for a number of years, partly because there was an established notion that there was such a thing as an equestrian &lsquo;look&rsquo;, a rather dowdy and conservative image which by now seemed to be a out of place with the pace of change in the rest of society.&nbsp; Not for the first or the last time, &lsquo;horse people&rsquo; were thought by the traditionalists to be a different species to everyone else.&nbsp; This thinking had survived for centuries but by the 1980s, things were about to change&hellip; <a href="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=Hac-Tac-Original-Jods.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3954 " title="Hac Tac Original Jods" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=Hac-Tac-Original-Jods.jpg" alt="" width="291" height="351" /></a> Riding had become much more inclusive by that time, inviting people who would have been unlikely to fit with the &lsquo;landed gentry&rsquo; roots of most of our equestrian sports.&nbsp; Outside of the show ring, these enthusiastic new riders wanted to wear things they could ride in that reflected, rather than rejected, the outside world.&nbsp; The denim jodhpur, &lsquo;jeans you can ride in&rsquo;, may seem like an obvious, almost innocuous idea today &ndash; but in those days, it was a hugely significant development. Like any major innovation, it polarised opinion.&nbsp; The &lsquo;old school&rsquo; gave it short shrift and (as they always seem to do with anything that threatens the <em>status quo</em>), dismissed it as a &lsquo;fad&rsquo;.&nbsp; To those young enough to &lsquo;get&rsquo; it, or new enough to riding not to have had their thinking shaped by convention, denim jods were a genuine &lsquo;must-have&rsquo; item &ndash; a phrase all too often misused in fashion ever since. Needless to say, Robinsons were at the very forefront of that revolution.&nbsp; By then, we had established our catalogues and were forging a reputation amongst people who, by virtue of the very fact that they were using &lsquo;mail order&rsquo;, were proven to be innovators themselves.&nbsp; If ever there was a group of people that these products were made for, it was definitely our customers! <a href="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=1.png"><img class="size-large wp-image-3957 " title="1" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=1-699x1024.png" alt="" width="302" height="442" /></a> For a number of years, as Hac Tac&rsquo;s star rose and shone brightly, you could always find their denim jods in a Robinsons catalogue.&nbsp; In their early years, it was the basic, ground-breaking &lsquo;Original&rsquo; model, then the matching sweatshirt bearing the bold &lsquo;Original Alternative&rsquo; slogan.&nbsp; As time went by, the &lsquo;Next Generation&rsquo; of Hac Tac garments became available, in a choice of colours, of course.&nbsp; Like many of the other fashions of the time that defined the era, it&rsquo;s now fondly remembered as representing both innovation and nostalgia. The new range hopes to incorporate both those qualities, recapturing the rebellious chic that gave it such character &ndash; but now with a distinctly retro appeal.&nbsp; Bold, contrasting colours (white, raspberry and navy) are used consistently across the range, in conjunction with the brand&rsquo;s distinctive &lsquo;HAC TAC&rsquo; logo confidently emblazoned across the chest, polo-style. This &lsquo;comeback&rsquo; range is designed exclusively for ladies and comprises two colour variants of polo shirt, a lightweight gilet, a softshell jacket, a lightweight jacket, a sweater and a white riding shirt &ndash; all in sizes from 8 to 18. With the name back in the spotlight, <a title="Robinsons: The SS15 Hac Tac Selection" href="http://bit.ly/HacTacSelection">the range now available online</a> and coming to a Robinsons store near you, it&rsquo;s a great time to re-acquaint yourself with a brand name that started life by challenging the conventions of riding fashion and, over time, helped to re-define it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/short-sleeve-polo.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-3962 " title="HAC TAC Polo Red" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=HAC-TAC-Polo-Red.jpg" alt="" width="581" height="581" /></a> &nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/short-sleeve-polo.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-3966 " title="HAC TAC Polo White" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=HAC-TAC-Polo-Grey.jpg" alt="" width="574" height="574" /></a> &nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/softshell-jacket.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-3968 " title="HAC TAC Softshell Raspberry" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=HAC-TAC-Softshell-Red.jpg" alt="" width="574" height="574" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/lightweight-gilet.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-3969 " title="HAC TAC Gilet Navy" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=HAC-TAC-Gilet-Navy.jpg" alt="" width="574" height="574" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/lightweight-performance-jacket.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-3970 " title="HAC TAC jacket Navy" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=HAC-TAC-jacket-Navy.jpg" alt="" width="574" height="574" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/hac-tac-the-return-of-the-original-alternative
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/hac-tac-the-return-of-the-original-alternative#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=269506b6-7ba0-41e8-bd6c-6001babfab6dWed, 8 Apr 2015 11:36:00 +0000Newsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=269506b6-7ba0-41e8-bd6c-6001babfab6d0http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=269506b6-7ba0-41e8-bd6c-6001babfab6dhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/hac-tac-the-return-of-the-original-alternative#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=269506b6-7ba0-41e8-bd6c-6001babfab6dAbout the Robinsons Catalogue…<img style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" src="http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/image.axd?picture=030515_1536_AbouttheRob1.png" alt="" width="116" height="523" align="right" />Hi. Have you got a moment? We need to talk…
…Okay, I'm just going to say it: I think we have a problem with Catalogue. Like a much-loved, ailing pony, its behaviour has been a concern for a while. At first, we chose to ignore it, then we made excuses for it but deep down, I think we both knew this day would come. We have to do something or it'll just be a matter of time before it bites somebody – and neither of us wants that.
I know you'll be shocked by this – it's a lot to take in. I know you've looked forward to seeing its smiling face every season, all these years. We've both enjoyed the familiar sound it makes when it pokes through the letterbox in the morning. We should cherish those days and be glad they've lasted so long.
The thing is, it's nearly 30 years old now and, well, you can just tell it's not as happy as it used to be - and no longer able to keep up with its stable mates, <a title="Robinsons: Get Emailed Offers!" href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/subscribe.html">Email</a>, <a title="The Robinsons FB Page" href="https://www.facebook.com/Robinsons.Horsebook">Social</a> and <a title="Robinsons: Store Locations" href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/our-stores">Stores</a>. It's just not fair to it to see it in its present, diminished state when it used to be so full and vibrant and carefree. We owe it to Catalogue to be responsible and do what's best, however it makes us feel.
This may be the year when we have to do 'the right thing'. It'll soon be spring so let's put it out to pasture for now and let it enjoy its rest. If things are worse in the autumn, we'll talk again and…you know…make a decision.
Does that sound sensible?
Thanks for being so strong about this...
Xhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/about-the-robinsons-catalogue
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/about-the-robinsons-catalogue#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=1aabae0a-1587-4c3a-825f-d3702e9d9b6aThu, 5 Mar 2015 15:36:29 +0000Newspaul.bentham@robinsons-uk.comhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=1aabae0a-1587-4c3a-825f-d3702e9d9b6a0http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=1aabae0a-1587-4c3a-825f-d3702e9d9b6ahttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/about-the-robinsons-catalogue#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=1aabae0a-1587-4c3a-825f-d3702e9d9b6aNew Spring Range & FREE Delivery!<p>To celebrate the launch of our Spring 2015 range and for a limited time only, our standard UK mainland delivery service &ndash; up to &pound;5.99 &ndash; is FREE for online orders over &pound;20! Plus, as an added bonus, we&rsquo;ll even deduct &pound;5.99 from the delivery charge should your order require our Express, Export, Offshore or Heavy Duty service. Which means you&rsquo;ll be saving whatever delivery service you use! In all cases the delivery charge will be automatically deducted from the order total at the bottom of your shopping trolley: <strong>Steps to claim your FREE delivery:</strong> 1. At the bottom of your basket click &lsquo;calculate your shipping&rsquo; 2. Insert the delivery address postcode &amp; click &lsquo;Get a quote&rsquo; 3. Select your delivery method &amp; click &lsquo;Update total&rsquo; Place your <a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/">order now</a> - this offer is available for a limited time only! Remember, our FREE delivery offer is available exclusively online for orders over &pound;20. &nbsp;</p>http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/epic-savings-free-delivery
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/epic-savings-free-delivery#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=17abb879-3c82-4b55-ad62-75c1c168db87Mon, 16 Feb 2015 10:21:00 +0000Newsrobi-adminhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=17abb879-3c82-4b55-ad62-75c1c168db870http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=17abb879-3c82-4b55-ad62-75c1c168db87http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/epic-savings-free-delivery#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=17abb879-3c82-4b55-ad62-75c1c168db872015 End of Season Sale!
<strong>Our Online and Instore End of Season Sale starts at 9am, Thursday 12th February. </strong>
We’ve not been shy with our mark downs, so there’s bound to be something in the sale section that you’ve had your eye on for a while, or something that’s simply too good a bargain to turn down.
As usual in a sale, stock on some of the items is limited so be quick, as these bargains are going to sell out fast!
For those of you who prefer to handle your bargains before you buy them, our Instore Sale is for you.<strong>
</strong>
At Ashton, Basingstoke, Cannock and our new Leeds Megastore, you’ll be able to grab a bargain from 9am until 8pm on Thurs 12th February. Our Cardiff store will be open at 9am but will close a little earlier, at 5.30pm.
If you are planning a visit to any of our stores during the Sale, here’s a quick guide to each store, their contact details and their opening hours.
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/ashton">Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/cannock">Cannock, Staffordshire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/basingstoke">Basingstoke, Hampshire</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/cardiff">Radyr nr Cardiff, Glamorgan</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/leeds-megastore/">Leeds</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/2015-end-of-season-sale
http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/2015-end-of-season-sale#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=810da225-2470-4983-abaf-8fe55d7ddb58Mon, 9 Feb 2015 11:42:10 +0000Newsjillian.deane@robinsonsequestrian.comhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/pingback.axdhttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post.aspx?id=810da225-2470-4983-abaf-8fe55d7ddb580http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/trackback.axd?id=810da225-2470-4983-abaf-8fe55d7ddb58http://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/post/2015-end-of-season-sale#commenthttp://blog.robinsonsequestrian.com/syndication.axd?post=810da225-2470-4983-abaf-8fe55d7ddb58